How to Create a Puzzle Cube in SelfCAD

3D modeling software is very useful in creating and customizing puzzle cubes, going beyond the classic Rubik's Cube. With tools like SelfCAD, people can try out different shapes, sizes, and moving parts. This means you can design cubes with more faces, unusual shapes, or new solving challenges. 3D modeling helps make precise adjustments to the cube’s size and parts, leading to new and personalized puzzle designs.

In this article, we shall create a puzzle cube using the various tools of SelfCAD. Start by launching SelfCAD and open the workspace: 

From the 3D Category on the toolbar select the 3D Sketch:

Activate Rectangle from the tools panel:

From the plane select the Back/Front: 

Set Snap to Grid Vertices to True in the Precision Settings:

Click on the highlighted point to draw the rectangle:

Draw a pattern as follows:

Click “X” to close the 3D Sketch Panel. Activate the Polygon Selection and select the polygons as highlighted. From the Modify category select the Extrusion:

Set the Extrusion Amount to -75. Tick the check mark to finalize the extrusion:

Click on the Color Picker and select the Yellow button. Click Ok to confirm the color:

Click the hide button to hide the selected object:

Click on profile_1 to select it, then activate the Polygon Selection and use it to select the polygons as shown. Then select the Extrusion tool from the Modify:

Tick the check mark to finalize. Click the Color picker and click on the red button to select it. Click ok to apply the color:

Click hide to hide the mesh_2. Click to select the profile_1 and activate the Polygon Selection. Select the highlighted region and from the Modify category, select Extrusion:

Set the Extrusion Amount to -75 and tick the check mark to finalize the extrusion:

On the Color picker choose the orange button to select the color, then click hide to hide the object:

Select the profile_1 again, then activate the Polygon Selection on the right side panel. Use it to select the region shown below and then select Extrusion from the Modify category:

Set the Extrusion Amount to 150 and tick the check mark to finalize the extrusion:

Select the blue button on the color picker to select the color of the object. Use the Move tool on the tools panel to set Z to 0:

   Click on the show button to show mesh_3. Mesh_2 and mesh_1:

Select mesh_1, mesh_2 and mesh_3 then click isolate:

Click “X” to close the transformation panel, and there you go, you have successfully created a puzzle cube in SelfCAD

In schools, 3D modeling and puzzle cubes help teach geometry, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving. Students can create their own puzzle cubes using modeling software and see how different shapes and parts change the puzzle’s difficulty. This hands-on activity makes learning these concepts more practical and engaging. If you would like to 3D print it, you can use the in-built online slicer of SelfCAD to slice it and generate the G-code to send to your 3D printer.

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Enjoy powerful modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.

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